In a recent announcement, OnePlus has confirmed that the upcoming OnePlus 15 will feature a downgraded screen resolution compared to its predecessor. The new phone will sport a 1.5K resolution display running at an impressive 165Hz refresh rate, a shift from the QHD+ 120Hz display of the OnePlus 13.
According to Li Jie Louis, the president of OnePlus China, the decision to implement a 1.5K resolution is not a cost-cutting measure but rather a technical necessity. The company has stated that achieving a QHD+ screen with a refresh rate of 165Hz is currently beyond the capabilities of existing luminescent materials and circuit technology. Louis elaborated on Weibo, stating, “Due to limitations in luminescent materials and circuit technology, the industry is currently unable to achieve the 165Hz + 2K specifications simultaneously.”
Despite the downgrade in resolution, OnePlus claims that the OnePlus 15 will feature the “optimal solution” with its 165Hz+1.5K display, labeling it as the industry’s first of its kind. Interestingly, Louis mentioned that this new screen is actually more expensive to produce than the OnePlus 13’s display. He noted that every component, from the screen’s luminescent materials to the drivers and circuit design, had to be “independently developed and reconstructed.”
While OnePlus has not explicitly cited battery life as a reason for the lower resolution, this factor could be a consideration. Current flagship phones often come equipped with large batteries, but the energy demands of a QHD+ screen at a high refresh rate can be significant. Although technologies like LTPO (Low-Temperature Polycrystalline Oxide) have improved efficiency for QHD+ displays, the shift to a 1.5K resolution may help mitigate potential battery drain.
Fans of the OnePlus brand may be disappointed with this decision, as the company’s flagship phones have consistently been praised for their exceptional screen quality. Since the launch of the OnePlus 10 Pro, all of the brand’s Pro models have featured a QHD+ resolution. In contrast, competitors like Realme have chosen a different tactic, as seen in the recently launched GT8 Pro, which includes a 144Hz QHD+ screen.
Despite the initial disappointment regarding the display resolution, OnePlus is promoting the 165Hz screen as offering an “unprecedented smooth experience” that they believe represents the future of mobile display technology. As we await the official launch of the OnePlus 15 in China on Monday, it remains to be seen if the claims made by OnePlus will hold true or if they are merely marketing hype. Stay tuned for more updates and insights from Android Authority as we continue to cover this exciting development in the smartphone landscape.
